Lever drive

Learn about the benefits of this revolutionary approach to mobility

Lever drives combine the efficiency of handycles and the small size of manual wheelchairs. They amplify your force, making it easier to self propel, especially outdoors on grass, sand, and rough terrain. Scientific research shows that lever drives are ergonomic and a great source of low-impact cardio exercise. While lever drives have been around for decades, new products on the market like the GRIT Freedom Chair make the advantages of lever drives accessible for everyone.

What are the benefits of using a lever drive?

Easy to push

The GRIT Freedom Chair's lever drive has a mechanical advantage between the lever and the wheel, making it easier to push the chair forward than on push-rim wheelchairs.

Low impact

Lever drives use an ergonomic motion that engages large muscle groups in the chest and shoulders. They can help eliminate the shoulder issues that plague push-rim wheelchair users.

Clean hands

Lever drives keep your hands far away from the wheels and everything they are rolling through. They also provide easy braking, since you don't have to try to grab slippery push rims.

Fun to ride

Lever drives take the physical stress out of pushing yourself around, helping you to focus on enjoying your environment and the friends and family you're exploring it with.

Heart healthy

The ergonomic lever motion is easy on smooth ground, exercising your heart and lungs rather than just your arms. Many GRIT Freedom Chair riders love the low impact cardio workout.

Portable

Lever drives are compact, especially when compared to crank-drives on handcycles. For example, GRIT Freedom Chair easily disassembles to fit in the the trunk of a small car.

Who is it for?

Lever wheelchairs have been around for a while, but new designs like the GRIT Freedom Chair have introduced them to a much wider audience! With over two hundred GRIT Freedom Chairs in parks, at beaches, and on trails around the US, it's clear that all kinds of riders can benefit from lever drives. Members of the GRIT community include:

Anyone with difficulty walking

Outdoor enthusiasts

People who want to exercise

People with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, leg amputation, traumatic brain injury, and other disabilities can use lever drives. Since lever drives are easier to push, and don't require grip strength to operate, riders who cannot self-propel in a regular push-rim wheelchair may be able to push themselves in a lever drive chair. Many people who do not typically use a wheelchair, but have difficulty walking outdoors or for long distances, can enjoy the benefits of lever drives.

Outdoor enthusiasts with limited mobility who miss the freedom and adventure of the outdoors can also benefit from lever drive chairs like the GRIT Freedom Chair. It's also a great choice for wheelchair riders who are looking for a form of low-impact exercise to keep in shape.

How does a lever drive compare?

vs Manual Wheelchairs

Easier to push

Studies on wheelchair propulsion found that lever drives don't require as much strength as push rims.